LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Monday

Jan 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM

I worked in Medford School District for 19 excellent years. I loved teaching, and deeply admired my colleagues. I remember when I found out that the superintendent, and other administrators, are compensated more than Governor Kitzhaber. I was outraged, then deeply discouraged. It's grown even worse in the years since I left teaching. See http://bit.ly/1ju2KB9.

I worked in Medford School District for 19 excellent years. I loved teaching, and deeply admired my colleagues. I remember when I found out that the superintendent, and other administrators, are compensated more than Governor Kitzhaber. I was outraged, then deeply discouraged. It's grown even worse in the years since I left teaching. See http://bit.ly/1ju2KB9.

The best school districts in our country, with the highest scores and number of graduates, have the best teachers — experienced, accomplished, educated individuals. Demonstrating gratitude and respect for teachers through the contract is the obvious. 549C teachers are inspired professionals working hard to educate generations of future citizens to cultivate the skills to live honorable lives. Our teachers and support staff deserve the same honors they bestow. To deny our teachers is to deny our community!

In these times of economic downturns and recessions, I find it hard to swallow that the district supports six-figure salaries for various administrators while slicing our kids' futures into question marks. With all due respect to my former colleague Dr. Long, I wonder why he continues cheerleading for an activist School Board. This 549C board treats our schools like corporate business and tragically, the money goes to the top. — Susanna Bahaar, Jacksonville

The Eugene Register-Guard editorial "Bridges have two ends" (Jan. 18) asks the question "why should Oregon take on all the risk of replacing the Interstate 5 bridges over the Columbia River while receiving only half the transportation benefit." The terrifying answer to this question could come the day after the predicted 9.0 quake has sent these obsolete bridges collapsing into the Columbia along with numerous cars and people.

The loss of life, not to mention the economic damage, would be horrendous. So the answer has to be that replacing these bridges must be done as soon as possible in the name of public safety.

There are of course important issues to be ironed out. Washington has refused to pay their part of the cost. Fortunately, Oregon and federal authorities think it can be done without their money. They also believe the other issues can be worked out. The aged condition of these bridges makes one wonder if they could even survive a solid hit from an oversized load, like the one that brought down the bridge in Washington last summer.

This will be a complicated project! Sometimes, though, the urgency of a problem simply demands you cut through the red tape and get it done. — Mark Everett, Medford